Former FBI Director James Comey deleted a controversial Instagram post showing seashells arranged as “86 47,” which critics claim was a coded threat against former President Trump, prompting Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to call for his arrest.
At a Glance
- Comey’s Instagram post showing “86 47” in seashells is being investigated by the Secret Service as a potential threat to Trump
- DNI Tulsi Gabbard appeared on Fox News demanding Comey be “put behind bars” for the post
- The number “86” is slang for “getting rid of” someone, while “47” refers to Trump as the 47th president
- Comey deleted the post, claiming he was unaware of any violent connotations
- The White House condemned the post, with a Trump spokesperson calling it “clearly interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President”
Gabbard Demands Accountability for Comey’s “Threat”
When a former FBI Director arranges seashells to spell out what many interpret as a coded threat against a sitting president, you’d expect swift justice. Instead, the deep state continues its protection racket. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard isn’t having it, appearing on “Jesse Watters Primetime” to call out James Comey’s thinly veiled message against President Trump. Comey’s Instagram post featured seashells arranged to show “86 47” – with “86” being restaurant industry slang for eliminating someone and “47” representing Trump as the 47th president. It doesn’t take a counterintelligence expert to decode that message, yet Comey expects Americans to believe he was just innocently arranging seashells.
The timing couldn’t be more suspicious, coming after multiple assassination attempts against the former president. This isn’t just reckless social media posting – it’s a former top law enforcement official potentially inciting violence against a president he personally investigated and has publicly feuded with for years. Gabbard didn’t mince words about the severity of the situation, noting that Comey’s position of influence makes his actions particularly dangerous. The Secret Service has confirmed they’re investigating the post, as they should be when someone with Comey’s background makes what appears to be a thinly veiled threat.
Tulsi Gabbard just called for disgraced FBI director James Comey to be arrested — and said he should be IN JAIL for what he did.
He knew EXACTLY what he was doing and yes — should be investigated and pay the price. Watch @TulsiGabbard @DNIGabbard:pic.twitter.com/SItf9xjqRh
— Trish Regan (@trish_regan) May 16, 2025
Comey’s Flimsy Excuse Falls Flat
After facing immediate backlash, Comey hastily deleted the post and offered an excuse that insults the intelligence of every American. “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down,” Comey wrote. This from the man who ran the FBI – an organization that routinely investigates threats against public officials and certainly understands coded language. Are we really supposed to believe a career intelligence professional doesn’t know what “86” means?
“Any other person with the position of influence that he has, people who take very seriously what a guy of his stature, his experience and what the propaganda media has built him up to be, I’m very concerned for the president’s life.” – Tulsi Gabbard
The post has drawn widespread condemnation from conservatives, including Donald Trump Jr. and Meghan McCain, who immediately recognized the implied threat. Even the White House couldn’t ignore the implications. Taylor Budowich, Deputy Chief of Staff for Trump, called out the message for what it appears to be: “While President Trump is currently on an international trip to the Middle East, the former FBI Director puts out what can clearly be interpreted as ‘a hit’ on the sitting President of the United States — a message etched in the sand.” The administration’s concern speaks volumes about how obvious Comey’s message was, despite his attempts to play innocent.
Two-Tiered Justice System on Full Display
The situation highlights the glaring double standard in our justice system. While the Biden administration aggressively prosecutes January 6 protesters and targets parents at school board meetings as potential domestic terrorists, a former FBI Director who seemingly makes a veiled threat against a president faces little more than mild rebuke. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel have both acknowledged awareness of Comey’s post, but where are the dawn raids? Where are the handcuffs? Any conservative making similar statements would already be in custody, yet the establishment continues to protect its own.
“We’ve already seen assassination attempts. I’m very concerned for his life. And James Comey, in my view, should be held accountable and put behind bars for this.” – Tulsi Gabbard
The Secret Service has confirmed they’re investigating, but the real question is whether anything will come of it. “The Secret Service vigorously investigates anything that can be taken as a potential threat against our protectees. We take this responsibility very seriously and we are aware of the social media posts in question,” a spokesperson stated. Several Republican lawmakers, including Congressman Tim Burchett and Senator Marsha Blackburn, have called for Comey’s arrest, but will the justice system that has been weaponized against conservatives actually hold one of its own accountable? If history is any guide, Americans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for equal justice under the law.
